Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

This conversation is moderated according to USA TODAY's
community rules.
Please read the rules before joining the discussion.

Arizona high school basketball hype squads make games rowdy and fun

Desert Vista's student section goes crazy after a big dunk against Mountain Pointe during in the second half of their game at Desert Vista High School in Phoenix, Friday, Jan.11, 2019. Darryl Webb/Special for the Republic

Photos: High school basketball rowdy student sections

Desert Vista's student section goes crazy after a big dunk against Mountain Pointe during in the second half of their game at Desert Vista High School in Phoenix, Friday, Jan.11, 2019.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Republic

Pinnacle's student body gives Shadow Mountain's Jaelen House some grief in the first half of their game in Phoenix, Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. Darryl Webb/Special for the Republic

Photos: High school basketball rowdy student sections

Pinnacle's student body gives Shadow Mountain's Jaelen House some grief in the first half of their game in Phoenix, Friday, Nov. 30, 2018.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Republic

Shadow Mountain dad and former NBA player Eddie House cheers on his son and his team during the first half of their game with Pinnacle in Phoenix, Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. Darryl Webb/Special for the Republic

Photos: High school basketball rowdy student sections

Shadow Mountain dad and former NBA player Eddie House cheers on his son and his team during the first half of their game with Pinnacle in Phoenix, Friday, Nov. 30, 2018.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Republic

Shadow Mountain fans cheer during the first half of their game with Pinnacle in Phoenix, Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. Darryl Webb/Special for the Republic

Photos: High school basketball rowdy student sections

Shadow Mountain fans cheer during the first half of their game with Pinnacle in Phoenix, Friday, Nov. 30, 2018.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Republic

Pinnacle's student body gets into their game with Shadow Mountain in the first half of their game in Phoenix, Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. Darryl Webb/Special for the Republic

Photos: High school basketball rowdy student sections

Pinnacle's student body gets into their game with Shadow Mountain in the first half of their game in Phoenix, Friday, Nov. 30, 2018.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Republic

Pinnacle's student body gives Shadow Mountain's Jaelen House some grief in the first half of their game in Phoenix, Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. Darryl Webb/Special for the Republic

Photos: High school basketball rowdy student sections

Pinnacle's student body gives Shadow Mountain's Jaelen House some grief in the first half of their game in Phoenix, Friday, Nov. 30, 2018.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Republic

Chaparral students cheer for their team against Pinnacle in Scottsdale January 15, 2019. Michael Chow/The Republic

Photos: High school basketball rowdy student sections

Chaparral students cheer for their team against Pinnacle in Scottsdale January 15, 2019.
Michael Chow/The Republic

Chaparral students cheer for their team against Pinnacle in Scottsdale January 15, 2019. Michael Chow/The Republic

Photos: High school basketball rowdy student sections

Chaparral students cheer for their team against Pinnacle in Scottsdale January 15, 2019.
Michael Chow/The Republic

Pinnacle students cheer for their team against Chaparral in Scottsdale January 15, 2019. Michael Chow/The Republic

Photos: High school basketball rowdy student sections

Pinnacle students cheer for their team against Chaparral in Scottsdale January 15, 2019.
Michael Chow/The Republic

Chaparral students hold their hands up during a free throw against Pinnacle in Scottsdale January 15, 2019. Michael Chow/The Republic

Photos: High school basketball rowdy student sections

Chaparral students hold their hands up during a free throw against Pinnacle in Scottsdale January 15, 2019.
Michael Chow/The Republic

Chaparral students hold their hands up during a free throw against Pinnacle in Scottsdale January 15, 2019. Michael Chow/The Republic

Photos: High school basketball rowdy student sections

Chaparral students hold their hands up during a free throw against Pinnacle in Scottsdale January 15, 2019.
Michael Chow/The Republic

Brophy's student body called the "sixth man" cheer on their team against Pinnacle during their game in Phoenix, Friday, Dec. 21, 2018. Darryl Webb/Special for the Republic

Photos: High school basketball rowdy student sections

Brophy's student body called the "sixth man" cheer on their team against Pinnacle during their game in Phoenix, Friday, Dec. 21, 2018.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Republic

Pinnacle's student body section called the Crazies do their thing during the Brophy game in Phoenix, Friday, Dec. 21, 2018. Darryl Webb/Special for the Republic

Photos: High school basketball rowdy student sections

Pinnacle's student body section called the Crazies do their thing during the Brophy game in Phoenix, Friday, Dec. 21, 2018.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Republic

Pinnacle's student body section called the Crazies do their thing during the Brophy game in Phoenix, Friday, Dec. 21, 2018. Darryl Webb/Special for the Republic

Photos: High school basketball rowdy student sections

Pinnacle's student body section called the Crazies do their thing during the Brophy game in Phoenix, Friday, Dec. 21, 2018.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Republic

Pinnacle's student body section called the Crazies do their thing during the Brophy game in Phoenix, Friday, Dec. 21, 2018. Darryl Webb/Special for the Republic

Photos: High school basketball rowdy student sections

Pinnacle's student body section called the Crazies do their thing during the Brophy game in Phoenix, Friday, Dec. 21, 2018.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Republic

Pinnacle's student body section called the Crazies do their thing during the Brophy game in Phoenix, Friday, Dec. 21, 2018. Darryl Webb/Special for the Republic

Photos: High school basketball rowdy student sections

Pinnacle's student body section called the Crazies do their thing during the Brophy game in Phoenix, Friday, Dec. 21, 2018.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Republic

Pinnacle's student body section called the Crazies do their thing during the Brophy game in Phoenix, Friday, Dec. 21, 2018. Darryl Webb/Special for the Republic

Photos: High school basketball rowdy student sections

Pinnacle's student body section called the Crazies do their thing during the Brophy game in Phoenix, Friday, Dec. 21, 2018.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Republic

Interested in this topic? You may also want to view these photo galleries:

It usually starts with an, "I believe." If a young gun makes a big play, you might hear, "He's a freshman!" being chanted in unison.

Some of the bigger, better choreographed student sections get into the roller coaster that can look more spectacular than any play during the game.

As basketball season rolls into its peak month, January, more high school gyms are filling up across the state, forming their own teams of students with their own identities.

Chaparral students cheer for their team against Pinnacle in Scottsdale January 15, 2019.(Photo11: Michael Chow/The Republic)

Some even have their own Twitter accounts.

There is the 6th Man at Phoenix Brophy Prep (also known as the Red Army).

The Red Zone at Chandler Seton Catholic.

The Dawg Pound at Scottsdale Horizon.

The Crazies at Phoenix Pinnacle.

There is Scottsdale Chaparral's Birdcage.

The R Squad at Phoenix Moon Valley.

The Nest at Cactus Shadows

Cave Creek Cactus Shadows has The Nest that, when it really gets big and loud, the school touts as, "Fear The Nest."

"Our Silent Night is my favorite," said Cactus Shadows coach Zach Washut, whose team has been rolling at 17-2 with a strong student presence, even for Tuesday games. "They're dressed in holiday sweaters, Santa costumes. The section overflows."

Generally, athletes from other sports join the section, and are some of the most ardent supporters.

"We have a theme for every game," said senior shortstop Ty Mead, who is one of four leaders of Cactus Shadows' The Nest. "We have jersey themes. White outs, blue outs, black outs.

Cactus Shadows head coach Zach Washut talks to his team during a timeout against Moon Valley.(Photo11: Aaron Nicholson/azcentral sports)

"We've got Notre Dame coming up, so we need to think of a good one for them. Throughout the game, we do ad-lib things. There are interesting things everywhere."

Washut said there are no specific rules, "But sportsmanship has not been an issue for us."

"We would address if it ever becomes an issue," he added.

Mead said the main thing is to respect the refs. But students also need to not cross the line with players and make it so personal that it can venture into something ugly with students being escorted out of gyms.

"In the event that spectators, parents, or other non-school personnel initiate or use profanity in cheers or cheers having the intent of sounding profane, and single out opposing players personally and, or heckle them by directing derogatory or profane statements or chants at them, use racist remarks, direct offensive cheers and chants at opposing cheering sections, or engage in physical conflict or other threatening or aggressive behavior with school personnel, officials, players, coaches, or other spectators, the school(s) involved shall utilize all available law enforcement resources to prosecute such offenders, and shall take all reasonable actions to help ensure that future similar incidents do not occur, such as temporarily or permanently prohibiting the offender(s) from attending future contests."

Wilde said that Ally Rassel, a Pinnacle teacher, advises the leadership board that meets periodically throughout the school year on what are appropriate themes and chants.

Schools will use a game to promote a cause and sell merchandise that would go to that charity.

CLOSE

Pinnacle High School boys basketball student section is called the 'Crazies' @PHSCrazies
Brittany Bowyer, azcentral sports

"Throughout the year, we promote charitable organizations and causes," Wilde said. "For example, 'Hoopcoming' is being utilized as a 'Wish Week' to raise money for Make A Wish Arizona.

Pinnacle's Crazies

Pinnacle has one of the state's largest student sections for football and basketball. Most of the same students that go to football games are there for basketball. With senior guards Nico Mannion and Trent Brown leading the No. 1-ranked 6A team in Arizona, Pinnacle can pack it in, especially when it is playing teams like Phoenix Shadow Mountain and Brophy Prep.

Ryan Carlo, a senior who was appointed president of the Crazies, said she couldn't wait to be part of what has been a school tradition.

"Even when I was a freshman, I was like, 'I need to be a Crazy,''' she said. "You're just a Crazy if you come to the games."

Carlo said it's important for the Crazies not to the cross the boundaries of sportsmanship.

CLOSE

Get a closer look at the Birdcage, the rowdy high school basketball section at Chaparral boys basketball games. @CtownBirdcage
Arizona Republic

"We have a lot of eyes on ourselves, so we like to make sure we keep it classy," Carlo said. "I know some kids, even in our student section, question us, 'Why don't you go after the other team.' At the end of the day, you're cheering for your team."

The 'Knightmare Section'

Arizona College Prep in Chandler is one of the state's smallest schools. But it is also one of the more spirited for athletic events. Boys basketball coach Clint Treadway said the Knightmare Section must abide by all school rules.

But it has a special event for the first game of the season, called "Royal Flush," where fans throw toilet paper onto the court after the first basket of the first game of the season. It's turned into an annual tradition since it began in 2013 when the school started playing sports.

It is a way to celebrate the winter sports season, but Treadway said he has had to agree to being the fall guy, picking up the subsequent delay-of-game technical. The refs, however, understand why this is done and have yet to give him a technical.

"The refs have never given me a technical but they have the choice to," Treadway said. "We let them know in advance that we are doing this so they have been okay with it and we have volunteers, cheerleaders and students near to quickly pick it up.

"If they did give me a tech, it would be my first of the game so I would have to sit for the remainder of the game on the bench. If I got a second tech, I would have to leave the court.

"Our school is very supportive and you will often see multiple teams represented cheering us on at our games," Treadway said. "We are very lucky to play in such a strong and supportive community."

The R(ocket) Squad at Moon Valley

Moon Valley's pride shows up in gyms and most any other athletic event on campus, Athletic Director Edwardo Lopez said.

CLOSE

Moon Valley's R Squad goes nuts at high school basketball games
Brittany Bowyer, Special for azcentral sports

"The R Squad was created as a student spirit group to promote student pride and support all of our sports programs on campus," Lopez said. "The group is made up of current students with the majority being student council members and athletes. They also make it a point to attend games from each sport not just football or basketball. Good sportsmanship is emphasized and modeled by our student leaders. We often get compliments from other schools on how well our student section conducts themselves."

Lopez said coach Matt Elliott appreciates the R Squad because it supports not just the starters but the guys at the end of the bench who get into games.

After a win at Brophy Prep, the students build a tunnel for the players to run through as they leave the gym for the locker room.

Last year, when Brophy played host to Pinnacle, the Sixth Man filled up the entire west lower balcony. Coach Matt Hooten is hoping for the same setup Friday night at home for Chandler Hamilton in a big 6A Premier Region game.

CLOSE

Get a closer look at the student section at Brophy Prep, dubbed the 6th Man. @BrophyHoops
Arizona Republic

"I don't think there are many high schools in Arizona that can fill up an entire lower bowl with students," Hooten said.

The Sixth Man will see the reception and the kind of excitement it can generate Friday when it plans on using a projector screen like a Jumbotron during breaks in the game, Hooten said.

The student sections at Arizona State (The 942 Crew) and Grand Canyon University (The Havocs) have inspired high school student sections.

Mesa Skyline basketball coach James Capriotti likes to refer to it as the "House of Havoc" at his place.

Last year, at Mesa, the student section came up with the "Jackrabbit curtain," similar to ASU's Curtain of Disaster.

"When the opposing team is shooting free throws, the student section opens up the curtain and Mesa students do different things," said Darren Hobbs, an assistant coach whose son Zach is a top player on the team. "Last year we had the drama department act out part of a scene in full costume. This is all possible because of the support of administration and our amazing faculty."

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him at twitter.com/azc_obert.

» The I AM SPORT award is a contest created to honor high school student athletes who are committed to giving back to the youth in their communities. The voting period is now open and runs through March 5.